AIM FOR THE CENTER

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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If you were cold and someone told you to just decide to be warm without changing your circumstances in any way, you might imagine that their advice would not be considered as very valuable to you as you continue to shiver. In the same way, having someone tell you not to worry about a truly worrisome problem will not be very likely to help you in your time of need. 

Today we are going to listen to a passage of scripture that not only gives us good advice, but shows us how to step away from our anxieties as we take steps to be closer to the Lord.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

(1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIV11)

Wisdom

If all we did was quote verse 6 to a friend going through a rough time, we might be accused of being a bit insensitive. After all, just telling someone to be content when they are clearly in a place of uncertainty or struggle shows how little we know of their needs. 

But when we look at the whole of this teaching, we can see that this passage contains some real wisdom that can indeed bring aid to the anxious and worried. I have summarized my thoughts on this teaching below.

1.  Verse 6 – Godliness and contentment are more than slogans. I will unpack their value at the end of this list. 

2.  Verse 7 – If we can remember that we will not take anything material from this world with us into God’s gift of eternal life, then this should begin to help us prioritize those elements of this life that will travel into heaven. 

The way that we love one another, serve the Lord, show grace and mercy in this life, these are the only attributes that will follow us into heaven. Our titles, our things, our looks, and our reputations in this world will die when our bodies grow cold. 

If we want to build something great in this life, build into others the gifts that God has provided you. Serve Jesus by serving others.

3.  Verse 8 – It is easier to say that to live out. In many ways, this is an aspirational statement concerning who we want to become in this life. We want to become people that have a right perspective on our things and on our achievements but we are not quite there yet. 

To be content with having what you need brings freedom. By seeing the provision of the Lord and acknowledging your gratitude for what the Lord has done, we are then free from the constant and unending desire for more.

4.  Verse 9 – This is a powerful statement. Read it again, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” One of the biggest destroyers of our quest for godliness and contentment is our basic desire to have more and more. 

This thirst for more is a trap. When we start down the road of accumulation of wealth for the sake of our own selfish desire or for our image, this is a slippery slope that very few seem to climb out of without intervention. I am sure that as you reflect on the truth of verse 9, you too will see the wisdom of God in its message.  

5.  Verse 10 – For the love of money… Again, we are challenged to examine our motives. Are we working hard to provide for our families and to help resource the kingdom of God or are we working for our own benefit and good? 

Money and wealth are nothing. They are not the problem that leads us into being discontent in this life. Our love for money and wealth and all that it brings with it, this is the true source of our stress and pain. Examine your motives and see whether your treasure lies in the hands of God or in your own hands. 

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

This is more than a trite slogan that we can throw around when we encounter people who have fallen into the trap of setting our sights on the treasures of this world. This is the center of the target, the bullseye for which we should be aiming. 

If we set before ourselves the goal of godliness, drawing near to the Lord in such a way that we hide nothing from God and submit ourselves to his leadership daily, then all else in life will move toward this goal. 

Contentment without godliness is temporary. It feels great to look over your kingdom and be proud of all you have accomplished, but it does not last. Unless we set out before our eyes the goal of godliness, we will never know the gift of true contentment.  

Contentment does not come from having your desires met or from seeing your ambitions accomplished, it comes from knowing that in this life, you are allowing the Lord to work in and through you to produce fruit that will last into eternity. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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